Prologue — the evil that men do 

TWO FULL MOONS AGO. 

"Now the both of you will rot in hell." Beta Devon sneered as he plunged the dagger deeper into his brother's chest. 

Katherine froze. 

She could not believe what just happened in front of her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared at the only person, her father has ever loved. The person, her father decided to show mercy and lift his image by making him his beta; and that was her father's brother. 

So how could he? 

At first, she wondered why her father forgot about their training. He has been the one teaching her to wield her inner strength. So, Katherine was in the training ground, waiting patiently for him. But he never showed up. 

She felt that was odd. Her father has never forgotten his training session with her; Not even once. Which was what prompted Katherine to go and look for him. Deep down, she knew there had to be something holding him back from coming. 

But by the time she got to her parent's room, she froze. Behold, her father's brother had masked her parent with a sleeping draught, making them pass out. As if that was not enough, he plunged a dagger into her mother's chest and did the same for her father. 

Then he placed both of their hands on each other. 

Katherine swallowed hard. For a split second, she gasped for air that seemed to have eluded her lungs. She quickly hid behind the large curtain draped at the entrance so Beta Devon would not notice. 

In tears, she covered her mouth to muffle her sobs. Various thoughts began to make her mind run amok; what the hell was going on? What was the reason why Beta Devon could kill his brother? 

Her father, Alpha Kilani has never done anything wrong to him. To be precise, he was a meek and gentle soul who proffered love to his pack. He hardly punishes those who offended him, rather he would just lock them up in the correctional dungeon for a few days and free them, later on. 

Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks, she fought back the rush of emotion emanating at the base of her throat. She knew she had to keep quiet. Should Beta Devon notice her, he would kill her to hide whatever reason made him kill her parent. 

Katherine pressed her lips into a grim line, she could not believe her parents were both gone at once. If only she wasn't a weak wolf, she thought to herself. If only her wolf and powers had emerged yet. But still, they hadn't. 

Her father said it would when she turned eighteen. As for her powers, ice does engulf her palms once or twice. But they've never really emerged on her own accord. 

Beta Devon chuckled. "You think you are better than me, huh?" Katherine watched him through the tiny hole in the curtain. He slapped her father's right cheek. "Well, Kilani.....I just showed you two can play the game. Now, it's my time to shine." 

Katherine's heart skipped a beat. 

What did he just say? 

To her utmost dismay, Beta Devon broke into tears and darted out of the room. When she was sure he was gone, she walked over to her parent's defuncted bodies. "No!" a loud yelp escaped her lips. "Father, mother...please wake up." tears kept on rolling uncomfortably down her cheeks. It felt as though Beta Devon has taken everything from her. 

She stared in horror as more blood oozed out in spurts from her father's thigh. This was so unfair, what did they do to warrant death as their reward? 

Just then, she heard voices coming towards the room. She quickly ran back to the curtain to hide, and she covered her mouth once more to stifle her sobs. Almost at once, the room filled with different people; the elders, the gamma, the delta, and some other important wolf figure. 

"I don't know why they did this to their selves!" Beta Devon's voice cracked. He broke down in tears. 

Katherine was too stunned to blink. She could not believe the person that killed her parents, was acting as though he was innocent. As though he knew not a d*mn thing that happened to them. 

"Calm down, Devon." one of the elders pat the small of his back. But Beta Devon broke into more tiny sobs and landed his body on the floor, wailing profusely. "How can you tell me to calm down?" He fired back at the elder amid sobs. "He is my brother for f*ck sake. I just came here to bring him the pack affairs papers and I discovered he got into a fight with his Luna and they killed themselves." 

Beta Devon smirked inwardly. His heart leaped for joy when he noticed the elders were buying his little charade. 

Everything around Katherine stood still. Her ears bled for the lies she just heard. It took every ounce of strength in her not to come out of hiding and face her father's brother. 

This was the highest kind of lie she had ever heard in her entire life. Had it been she didn't see him earlier, she would not have still believed him. Her parents loved each other so much. They seldomly argue, and when they did, her father was always the first to apologize. Yet, this mother f*ck*r was lying against the dead? 

Her pulse quickened. She clenched her fist in seething rage. Beta Devon had to pay for what he just did. Everyone has to know he was the one that killed her parents, she thought to herself. But as soon as one of the elders spoke, Katherine decided against it. 

"Too bad Alpha Kilani killed himself." The elder said. "He also committed a sacrilege by killing his Luna. I hope the moon goddess can forgive his sins. Let's order the omegas to pack them up." 

The delta darted off to get the omegas. Katherine could not believe that the elders reckoned with Beta Devon. She knew they would never believe anything she said. After all, she might just be trying to blame someone. 

Beta Devon kept on rolling his body on the floor, wailing profusely. "My brother! Oh no! I can't believe my brother is gone. Who will I go to for advice now?" He asked no one in particular. 

"Oh really?" Katherine scoffed. She bit down her lower lips, fighting the urge to speak out. How could people be so wicked? She thought to herself. 

No wonder her godmother always said the people closest to us are more dangerous than the ones that are far. 

She had to find her brother, she had to find Kelvin to tell him everything that just happened. But she waited until they had all left the room. 

The omegas had packed the corpse of her parents, leaving only their blood trails on the chair and floor. Everyone had left the room to go to the market square. 

Katherine finally came out of hiding. The once warm room she found comfort in, now became cold and depressing. Cold shivers surged through her spine as she dropped to her knees. 

Katherine closed her eyes at the memory. No, she would not go to the market square. She could not fathom how people could tell lies comfortably, as though there was nothing wrong with that. 

"Father, mother!" She clutched her chest and let the tears drop in rivulet to the ground. 

Slowly, she shuffled to her feet. Then with trembling fingers, she removed the emerald ring from her mother's middle finger. It was their family heirloom, and she hoped to protect it forever. 

With a depressing sigh, she stared at them once more. "I promise to avenge you both." Her voice cracked. "But first, I have to find Kelvin." 

Katherine darted out of her parent's room, to the corridor, then out of the house. She shivered though the flower-scented breeze flowing throughout the courtyard was warm. The people had already gathered in the market square, but Katherine decided to scan through the crowd for her brother. 

Just then one of the elders began to speak. "Alpha Kilani has killed himself and his Luna." 

Everyone gasped in shock. 

Murmurs began to emanate from the crowd. 

"How can our beloved Alpha kill himself?" Someone asked from the crowd. 

"was he suffering from depression of some sort?" Another person followed. 

"It is not possible, our Alpha cannot do such a dreadful thing!" Another voice trailed off. 

Katherine whimpered. Fresh tears welled up in her eyes. At least, the pack was wise enough to know that her father was incapable of doing such a thing. So how come the Elders couldn't see that? How could they not notice this was a ploy from Beta Devon? 

The eldest in the pack cleared his throat and everyone managed to keep quiet. "People of dark moon pack....it is so sad this happened, believe me, I find it very shocking and depressing...." He trailed off for a split second and then continued. "We will mourn the Alpha and his Luna for a week......after that, we would crown Beta Devon as Alpha." 

Katherine's heart skipped a beat. 

For a moment, she thought she had heard wrong. The elders were going to give the title to her parent's murderer. Beta Devon killed her parents and now he was going to usurp the title! 

Panic surged through Katherine's veins as she frantically began to search for her brother amidst the crowd. 

Where was he in the midst of all this chaos? She thought to herself. 

"Sorry to say, but Beta Devon cannot become the Alpha!" Another voice added. 

"Yes, The late Alpha had a son and a daughter. There is no way the title would be moved to his brother!" someone else declared. 

"Yeah!" The crowd chanted in unison, agreeing with the person. 

"He is not like he is dead. Kelvin is hale and hearty and he is the one that we want as our Alpha!" 

"We want Kelvin!" the crowd chanted. "We want Kelvin!" 

"Dark moon pack!" The elder roared, using his inner wolf voice. Instantly, everywhere became quiet. But Katherine didn't stop looking for her brother. 

The elder bowed his head in deference. "I had also said the same thing. Of course, I want Kelvin to become the next Alpha....but after this whole thing we searched for him, and found him laying dead in the woods...." 

Katherine paused. Her head snapped in the direction of the elder in shock. 

Her heart began to thump rapidly against her chest. Kelvin was dead too? This was all too much for her to bear. She glanced at Beta Devon, who had an invisible smug smile plastered on his face. 

It seemed as though he had been strategizing how to take down her family all these years, while her father showered him with love. 

Her head began to spin, and her blood boiled with anger. So before she knew what was happening to her, she crashed to the floor with a loud thud and darkness enveloped her. She was dead….

KATHERINE'S POV

“No! Give it back now!”  

I struggled with Laura to get back my ring, she can't take that away from me too. Her family has taken away everything from me and now, she was trying to covet my ring too.  

Fighting back with everything I have got, I grasped a handful of her hair and yanked it back forcefully. “I said give it back!” she groaned but didn't let go.  

Just then my uncle's wife, Luna Margaret, and her second daughter, Lisa scurried into my room.  

Without bothering to ask what happened, Luna Margaret shoved me backward and slapped me right across my cheek.  

My head tilted in the other direction and my cheek stung with emanating pain from the impact of her hand.  

“How dare you?” Luna Margaret pushed me, “How dare you lowly bloody omega dare to fight with my precious daughter?” 

My chest rose and fell in seething rage. No, how dare her? How dare her fucking address me as a lowly omega when her family ripped me off my title and loved ones?  

Two full moons ago, her mate, Beta Devon who has now become an Alpha, killed my parents in cold blood, alongside my brother, Kelvin. As if that wasn't enough, he usurped my father's title, his stupid wife became the Luna, his daughters are known as royalties, and the most outrageous of it all— was that their son, Liam was going to become the next Alpha. 

My head shot up to her. “Do not address me as that!” I warned. My voice cracked. Tears were filling my eyes.  

Luna Margaret narrowed her gaze at me. “Oh really?” She scoffed. “I can see you are becoming brave these days. Maybe it's been too long since you received a beating.”  

Pressing my lips together into a grim line, I clenched my fist but said nothing. Instead, I tossed a glare at her stupid ugly face.  

She turned to Laura and began to smoothen her disheveled hair. “Laura dear, what happened?”  

Laura glared at me. “I saw this ring with Kate, and I liked it. But she won't give it to me, mom.” She showed the ring to her mother and, Luna Margaret took it from her open palm. “How could a lowly omega like her, have such a precious thing?” She asked.  

“Call me whatever you want! But that ring is my family heirloom, you can't take that away from me!” I yelled angrily.  

Luna Margaret surveyed the ring in between her fingers. “Hmmm, it's emerald. Pricey and shiny too. It would make a good sale at the market.”  

My pupils dilated in shock. “No!” I lunged at her but the two she-devils blocked me from reaching her. “No! It's mine, it belongs to my family. You can't take that away from me!” I roared.  

Luna Margaret smirked devilishly, then she turned toward my direction and stopped behind her daughters. “Girls, give her the beating of her life for disrespecting your mother, while I head to the market and make a fortune with this.” She walked away and I yelled at top of my lungs.  

“No, no.....that's mine! You can't sell it! You can't fucking do this to me!” I tried to go after her, but Lisa and Laura shoved me backward and pounced on me at once.  

I tried to fight back, but I was too weak for both of them.  

They pushed me to the floor, kicking, hitting, and torturing me with their feet. I groaned and winced in pain, cussing about my miserable fate.  

Tears rolled down my cheeks as they continued to hit me. I just pressed my hands above my head to avoid sustaining a head injury. Since Luna Margaret has taken what I cherished the most in this life, I lost the urge to fight.  

I could not believe I failed my mom, I could not believe I failed my entire family. It has been two full moons now, and I still haven't done a thing to the person that murdered my parents in cold blood. I haven't taken back what they stole from me.  

All because of my weakness. Yes, I am a weak and pathetic wolf.  

It turned out I had powers, but they are nothing to be proud of. Sprinkles of ice emanated from my hands occasionally. But it wasn't based on my own accord, I thought maybe once I got a mate, he would save me from this hell and help me get revenge against them.  

Woe betide my fate again, I turned eighteen last full moon, and when young wolves around my age happily got their mates, I got nothing but pain and sadness.  

My mate never showed up, and neither did my powers. And without these things, there was no way I could put up with Alpha Devon and his family.  

If only my brother, Kelvin was alive..... 

“Hit her hard!” Lisa told Laura as they hit me everywhere on my body.  

I was beginning to taste blood at the tip of my tongue, and my whole body throbbed with pain.  

“She is bleeding!” Laura declared. “She is bleeding!”  

That was when they both stopped. Lisa leaned toward my face, and yanked my hair up, tilting my head to her face. “I hope you have learned your lesson, bitch. Next time, don't talk back to my mother. You are nothing but a worthless omega, the sooner you began to accept that, the better for you.” She sneered and released her grip on my hair.  

I didn't attempt to say anything back to her, instead, I kept mute and watched them leave. Laura tossed me a middle finger before closing my room door behind her.  

At that moment, I started coughing out blood.  My whole body throbbed and it felt as though, a carriage ran over me.  

What kind of life is this? I thought to myself.  

Plenty of times, I have devised a plan to escape from here, but my friend, Alan advised me against it. However, that was before they stopped him from coming to see me.  

Alan said— if I planned to escape, it meant I was going to become a rogue. And any pack that captures me, would kill me without giving me a chance to explain. 

Nonetheless, death was the last thing I wanted. At least, not until I see these people pay for their grievous sins. Not until I see Alpha Devon being cast out like a plague and stripped of his titles.  

Shuffling to my feet, I winced in pain and stared at the blood that oozed out of my right knee. These days, I have become so numb to feeling too much pain, probably because it was what I felt every day. And had become a part of me.  

I ambled to the door, so I could go after Luna Margaret. “She can't sell off my ring, no, she can't,” I said to myself repeatedly.  

However, when I got to the door and pressed down the knob, it wouldn't budge. It appeared this motherfucking daughter of a bitch had locked me in.  

Fresh tears rolled down my cheeks, “No!” I banged on the door. “No, please...I am sorry for responding but please do not sell my ring!” My voice cracked.  

My heart began to thump rapidly against my chest. Oh no! What am I going to do?  What am I going to do?  

I slipped to the floor, groaning and grunting alongside. Then I clutched my knees to my chest and wept bitterly.  

“Moon goddess, this is so unfair. You are so unfair. How can you be up there, letting evil people live? Letting them have their way as though it meant nothing?” I muttered under my breath. “Maybe you are just as evil as the rest of them. Perhaps, you aren't supposed to be addressed as a goddess but rather as a fucking demon.”  

Memories of my life before everything went down the hill, rushed to the forefront of my brain. I remembered when my father took Alpha Devon in after he went against him to get his mate from a different pack.  

He accepted him and his mate. Gave him the beta title, and appointed Luna Margaret as the women leader in the market. But eventually, what did they pay him with?  

Tears continuously rolled down my cheeks, as I scraped the ground with the tip of my fingers. I tend to injure myself a lot more, whenever I was going through a depressing state.  

“Kate!”  

I heard Lisa's stupid squeaky voice calling out to me. My bedroom door rattled on its hinges. “Oh, you're still mourning your precious ring?” she scoffed. “Anyway, my clothes are dirty and I need you to wash them now!” She growled and left. 

My pulse quickened. If only I had the strength to snap her like a twig, I would do so without thinking twice. 

Reluctantly, I shuffled to my feet, wiped off the fresh and dried blood from my knee with one of my clothes, then trudged out of my room. Arguing with them was pointless and mind-wracking. I made up my mind to simply obey as I have been doing for quite a while now until I found a solution to my pathetic situation. 

I packed up the dirty laundry from her room and went into the laundry room to wash them.  

With everything left in me, I abhorred every one of them so fucking much. From their father, Alpha Devon to their mother, to their brother, Liam. 

Liam was another fucking misery I don't even want to think about. He would always molest me sexually. On several occasions, he'd smack my butt or press my boobs. And despite having a mate, that doesn't stop him.  

Fortunately for me, he has never gotten his way to lay with me. Rather he teases me with dirty words.  

As soon as I was done with the laundry, I walked out of the house and hung them on the linen rope outside.  

Eventually, I retired to my room.  

Just as I was about to close my eyes and get some sleep, my room door flung open, and Liam sauntered in.

KATHERINE'S POV

“You are so fucking beautiful, Kate.” Liam declared, lunging himself on top of me before I could get the chance to shuffle away.  

With my whole body throbbing, I fought back. “Don't touch me, leave me alone, Liam. Let me go!” Fresh tears welled in my eyes. 

He continued to wrestle with me. “That is the problem, Kate. You are too gorgeous, far more gorgeous than my two fucking sisters and my mate, any man would want to have a taste of you.” He said shamelessly. 

I shook my head vigorously, still trying to block off his incessant attempts to undress me. “No, I do not belong to any man, I belong to no one. Let me go, Liam. You have a mate! Let me go!”  

Liam snickered. “She is not as pretty as you.” He managed to overpower me, and soon his dirty lips came down to my mouth and he forcefully stole a kiss from me.  

Whimpering, I pressed my hands against his hard chest and pushed him off, but he wouldn't budge. He continued to kiss me all over my face. 

I shoved my legs back and forth, trying to wiggle free out of his grip. Mother, father...please come to my aid, do not let this dirty swine get his way with me.” I said in my thoughts, as more tears cascaded down my cheeks, soiling the bedsheet at the base of my ears. 

He managed to tear my shirt with his fist, exposing my bare breasts to his display.  

“Liam!”  

Someone yelled at the door entrance, and his head snapped in the direction of the voice. I expelled a sharp breath of relief when I noticed his mate, Annie standing by the door frame. 

Liam froze.  

“Annie.” He let it out in a whisper. 

“I can't believe you are trying to rape someone else, after rendering my body to you?” She scoffed. “You are an animal, Liam. A dirty piece of shit!” she roared and walked away.  

Instantly, Liam shuffled off me then he darted out of my room. I broke into more tiny sobs and tried to cover my shirt back. The fabric was already too weak before Liam tore it, so I had no choice but to tie it back, to hide my exposed breasts.  

When I was done tying it, I slipped out of the bed and trudged to the door. Another reason why anyone could barge into my room, was because there was no latch from the inside. But still, there was one on the outside, to restrain me from coming out of my room, at their own will.  

I closed the door and pushed my small bag of clothes to the back. Not that it would stop anyone from coming in, but at least, I would be able to notice if a presence was in my room.  

More tears rolled down my cheeks. So if Annie hadn't shown up, Liam would have had his way with me, I thought to myself. And I clutched my chest in agony.  

Why me?  

I wished I died alongside my parents. I wished I came out of hiding so Alpha Devon could kill me too, maybe then, I wouldn't be subjected to this kind of misery. Sniffling back sobs, I wiped the snort from my nose.  

After several minutes, when I didn't hear any voices or footsteps, I curled into a fetal position on the floor, not having the strength to climb back into my bed, and cried myself to exhaustion. 

★ 

It felt as though someone plunged me into a lagoon. Coughing, I jolted to a sitting position.  

“Ugh!” Lisa groaned. “Thank goodness, this bitch is finally up.”  

Laura laughed and dropped the jar, that contained the water she poured on me to the floor. I stared at my whole body drenched and wet. Water was dripping from my hair, down to my thighs, then to the floor.  

Biting down on my lower lip, I glared at them. I was too weak and sore to utter a darn word.  

Laura leaned towards my face. “Gosh, you are glaring at me with those pathetic eyes of yours!” Her face contorted into a grimace. “You must think because you are so pretty, you can do whatever you like with your face.” she spat.  

“How about we deform her, Laura?” Lisa snapped her fingers. “I think we should use a knife to carve a scar on her face, then she wouldn't be so perfect.” She said between gritted teeth. 

My breath hitched.  

My precious face. Even if it meant losing my life, I would do anything to protect my face. They can't take away my beauty too, I would never let that happen.  

Silence ensued for a split second, then Laura shrugged. “That ain't a bad idea, but I am very happy today..... I need to get ready for the Alpha king remember?”  

A small smile curved into Lisa's lips, “Yeah, you are right. My sister is going to be the Alpha king's mate. I can't wait to see him.”  

Lisa and Laura made to walk out of the door, but Laura turned halfway.  

“Bitch, Up.” She gestured with her fingers. “Right now!” then she walked out of my room.  

For a split second, I tried to gather my thoughts. I could not believe Laura was going to become an Alpha king's Luna. How could someone as heartless as her, get something so precious? While I suffered every day.  

I struggled to my feet, groaning at the pain that emanated from my knee. When I looked down at the injury, the surface had turned purple and it wasn't looking good.  

Maybe I can sneak out of the house at night and head to the royal physician, I thought to myself.  

Quickly, I changed into another pair of clothes and walked out of my room.  

When I got to Laura's room, they were giggling and talking about heaven knows what. But as soon as they noticed my presence. The smile on their faces vanished into thin air, and it was soon replaced with a scowl.  

“Hurry over here,” Lisa bellowed. “The Alpha king would be here anytime soon, and I want my sister to look perfect.” She giggled. 

The both of them burst into a series of raucous laughter, as I walked over to them.  

Without uttering a single word, I loosened the band on Laura's hair, and her long black slick hair scattered around her shoulders. Normally, Laura was a lot prettier than Lisa. Maybe that explained why the moon goddess decided to mate her with the Alpha king, the leader of all Alphas. 

I began to comb her hair, tossing several glares at them through the mirror. Lisa picked up a golden piece of paper from the dressing table and then started to read it. 

“To the Devon family, the royal families are pleased to unite with you through our son, the Alpha king, and your daughter, Laura. The Alpha king would join you soon to take away his mate, please prepare for his arrival, signed elder Timothy.” She read out loud and smiled again. 

It was then I realized the Alpha king had sent a letter to them. To be honest, a pang of jealousy swept through me as I continued to comb through her hair, I could not believe Laura was going to have her mate, while my life remained a shithole.  

“Hey, watch it!” Laura snapped at me. 

Gathering my wits, I shoved back all the waves of emotions rushing through my veins and focused.  

It's going to be okay, Katherine. Everything is going to be okay, I thought to myself. 

★ 

Eventually, dusk approached and I was done with the makeover for Laura. I hate to admit it, but she looked so gorgeous in the blue dress and her face was a little bit presentable under the heavy work of makeup.  

They were all seated at the dining table; Alpha Devon, Luna Margaret, Laura, Lisa, Liam, and the Alpha King, while I was the one serving them.  

I arranged the dishes carefully around the table. To be honest, the Alpha King was very handsome. His presence radiated a lot of dominance and pride. Plus, I could see the way Alpha Devon humbled himself in front of him. 

“Be fast about this, Kate!” Luna Margaret snapped, then she forced a smile so the Alpha wouldn't get a whiff of what was going on.  

Alpha Devon cleared his throat to ward off the awkward atmosphere. “It is a pleasure to have you here, Alpha Jordan.”  

Alpha Jordan didn't respond, instead, he nodded and cast a cursory glance at me. 

I felt my whole body lit up beneath his piercing gaze. One by one, it felt as though he was undressing me with his eyes.  

My chest heaved. Swallowing hard, I managed to dish out portions of pasta into their plates, moving carefully so I would not trip and fall.  

“Kate, serve the Alpha first.” Luna Margaret instructed me and I simply obliged.  

I walked over to where the Alpha king was seated, and for some reason, my heart was pounding rapidly against my chest.  

When I lowered my head and began to serve him, he tilted his head to my face and asked, “What is your name?”  

My heart skipped a beat.  

Oh my goodness!  

The Almighty Alpha king just asked me what my name was. I glanced at Lisa and Laura to see them glaring at me. To be precise, everyone's expression contorted into a grimace.  

“She is just a worthless omega,” Luna Margaret cleared her throat and managed an awkward brief laugh. “No need to bother yourself with her name.”  

I quickly dished out his food and made to walk away, but his deep voice stopped me mid-track when he repeated,  

“What is your name?”  

“Kate,” Lisa added immediately. 

“Katherine.” I managed. Hating the fact that they called me Kate; it felt like my bondage name. 

Alpha Jordan locked his gaze with mine. And I must admit, it was pretty heated and steamy. It felt as though we were communicating with each other, just with our eyes.  

All of a sudden, Alpha Devon cleared his throat, jolting me out of my trance. 

With a sharp intake of breath,  I resumed serving the pasta into their dishes.  

A few minutes passed, and everyone began to eat, while I just stood watching them.  

The Alpha king looked from his food to my face once more. Then he declared out of the blue.  

“I would like to take her with me.”